The Ultimate Guide to Content Creation
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Micro-Influencers Club, who wanted me to be honest, personal and candid about my life as a content creator and blogger, and what the experience has been like for me. Here’s to living this life as passionately and keenly as I do now!
- How did you start your journey of being a content creator?
Tanya Fontes: From being an MBA graduate to what I’m today has been nothing short of an odyssey, one that has taught me so much and perhaps changed my worldview. I think it all started from the single fact that I’ve always had an unrelenting love for stories, they have the power to make and break lives and this realisation is what made my life. I felt this need to add meaning to people’s lives and what better way to do so than by sharing stories that become a flaming insignia of all that’s good and bright and worth living for amidst this world of darkness and negativity?
Sharing these stories, my experiences and everything I’ve seen and learnt is my way of fulfilling a deep dream, a dream to lighten as many lives as I can. This journey has been as much of a learning experience as formal schooling has been. And I can’t wait to see what more it can bring to my life.
- Often people tend to think that being a content creator is just a side hustle and do both require much effort? Whereas, it is actually just the opposite. How do you react when you are being asked such questions?
Tanya Fontes: The truth. I think the truth is the best way to answer these questions.
Being a blogger, creating articles that resonate with people, and content that ‘clicks’ is not an easy job. So much thought and effort go into it.
In my line of work, you have to be the Jack of all trades from writing to marketing and be a significant master of all, if not an absolute maestro. Sometimes you don the hat of a critique and every single day you have to be the communications expert. Not to mention that you have to have a significant understanding of software from simple editing to graphics and how everything works. And, of course, at the end of the day, an entrepreneur is what you are and that’s not easy either. None of this is. Maybe that’s what’s exciting about the job too.
- How do you keep yourself updated with the latest trends on social media?
Tanya Fontes: It’s the age of digital media and we live in a hyperconnected world and the best way to stay abreast of all recent developments and trends would be right in the middle of it all. I follow a number of hashtags and accounts and have even set Google alerts for some of them so that I don’t miss anything new or significant.
- What kind of paid partnerships do you think actually work for you and your audience?
Tanya Fontes: Paid partnerships can be a double-edged sword and should be handled with much thought and care. I try my best to make sure that they are presented in a way that adds to the user experience and not disrupts it. Nobody likes seeing an annoying and unconnected advertisement in the middle of content they came to experience, which is exactly what traditional advertisements used to do.
I think the trick is to find sponsored content that resonates with me and my previous content so that it blends seamlessly with the rest adding credibility and trust.
- Are you willing to change your content creating style with time? If a bigger platform comes in the way, would you take it or stick to Instagram?
Tanya Fontes: Survival is about changing and adapting.
So yes, I’m ready for whatever the future brings with it as long as it lets me be my own boss and have fun while also doing what I want to do. To tell stories. To touch lives in a way only a good story can.
The same goes for the platform too, if something better comes along why would I not want to try it?
- What are some of the qualities that you found out about yourself while creating content?
Tanya Fontes: Lessons learned, not qualities found.
And the biggest one being that fear only exists in our mind. And if we set our minds to it, anything is achievable through consistent work. It’s not easy, there’ll be growth and learning that never ends but eventually, you’ll reach there and then move forward. Again.
- How do you come up with your content? What is your style?
Tanya Fontes: Sometimes the final product is crystal clear and at times it’s nothing more than a glimmer of sunlight streaming through a dark tunnel, and you just follow it till the end to find something worth the risk.
As for style, I’d like to believe personal style is as fluid and living as the person it belongs to, ever-changing and growing as we move forward, make mistakes, stumble and learn. This fluidity is essential. Change is the only constant and adapting but is essential for survival. And while every content creator and their style is sui generis, it’s imperative that we maintain a level of consistency so that we don’t publish something that does not position us in the right way.
- While creating your content, do you keep in mind your audiences’ views and reactions?
Tanya Fontes: The content that I put out is meant to be consumed by an audience, so why would I not want to present it in a way they’ll not only understand but also appreciate? Not to mention that knowing them will let me curate posts that will engage them while being informative.
So yes, understanding who my audience is, their general background and needs is something I always try to do.
- How do you typically spend your time on Instagram?
Tanya Fontes: In multiple ways actually, and I try to make it as productive as it can be by working through one task at a time.
There’s content creation and curation, obviously. But that’s only half the work. I also have to put aside some time for audience engagement and outreach ~ to know what my key audience thinks and to connect better with them. Without that my work will never be complete.
And, of course, all this is consciously planned and built into my day so that it’s actually effective and holds value.
- What is your perfect “Me-Time”? How do you spend your Off Days?
Tanya Fontes: Honestly, the options are several and sometimes seem endless and I’m glad.
But usually? Devouring a whole book in a single day or taking a self-care day and hitting the spa sounds equally good. Or maybe even set myself a budget and go shopping. Ha!
- Would you share some wisdom with the ones who are starting out recently or want to make it big as an influencer?
Tanya Fontes: Any destination that you see is a peaceful hiatus ~ the journey is what’s really beautiful. Enjoy it. Trust and focus on the process and be patient while you are at it.
- How do you keep the loyalty of your followers intact?
Tanya Fontes: I guess it all comes down to four things: Quality, Sincerity, Personality and Consistency.
Content quantity can do only so much, in the end, my readers come back because they saw something good and worth their time and attention. And it’s important that you believe and mean what you say because facades and masks tear down pretty fast. I guess this entails that the content is also unique and represents the creator and their personality. There are a limited number of topics and if everyone handled it the same way, it’d get pretty boring pretty fast, wouldn’t it? It’s the individual quirks and styles of presentation that’s unique to each creator that keeps it interesting.
- What has been your most satisfying moment in life thus far? A moment that always remains as a quick “pick me up” moment ever since.
Tanya Fontes: Guess I’m still a novice at life to truly answer this. Maybe people {who follow me on social media, and read my blog} coming up to me and telling me how I inspire them comes close.
- Who is your biggest inspiration and what inspires you the most, every day?
Tanya Fontes: Inspiration is everywhere and crosses your path every now and then. But the one person who’ll never cease to do so is my mother. Her smile even as she worked hard and her neverending kindness to virtually everyone will always be a source of strength to me, a bright and burning flame even in the darkest of nights.
- What would you be doing today, if not an Instagram Content Creator?…and a successful blogger.
Tanya Fontes: I have no answer to what, if not this. Maybe because I’m already here and love it. But stories are my lifeblood and no matter what the situation is, I guess I’ll always have one to tell.
Perhaps I will have more than a story.
I hope you have enjoyed reading these content creator notes as much as I did writing them.